In 1973 famed Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill stumbled upon an abandoned WWI era cement factory on the outskirts of his native Barcelona. The colossal 5000 sq ft structure was in a state of disrepair; housing over 30 silos, underground tunnels and enormous engine rooms, much of which was in ruins. With a grand vision for the maze of structures, Bofill’s firm spent the following two years renovating and repurposing the factory into an incredible multi-purpose space. Today ‘The Factory’ or ‘La Fabrica’ stands as the office of Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura (RBTA), as well as a gallery, archive rooms, library, model workshop and an eight bedroom, 12 bathroom residence for Bofill and his family.
One of Spain’s most celebrated architectural firms, RBTA is responsible for designing buildings for some of the world’s biggest brands, including; W Hotels, Cartier, AXA and Christian Dior. However, it seems Bofill had something remarkably unique in mind for what would become his home and office for the ensuing 40 years. After demolishing much of the decaying factory Bofill and his team began reformatting the property, exposing certain structures and cleaning cement to turn the factory into a usable, liveable space.
Landscaping and the planting of numerous subtropical plants play a strong role in juxtaposing the Industrial and Brutalist features of the building. Palms, olive trees, cypresses and climbers have engulfed the once baron grounds of a factory to create an expansive and surreal oasis. “The advantage of this labyrinth is that people don’t find each other,” says Bofill.
One of the many highlights of The Factory is the ‘cathedral’, an enormous light-filled room that is used for a variety of purposes including exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events. Many of the original industrial features were retained to create a truly awe-inspiring space.
Nature and natural elements are not restricted to the landscaping that envelops the Factory. Many trees, palms and various indoor plants act as a calming backdrop to the imposing and vast interior spaces. Natural light floods the many rooms thanks to the inclusion of numerous oversized windows while inconceivably tall curtains filter the bright Catalan sun.
Bofill maintains that The Factory is not finished, but is rather a continually evolving experiment that continues to inspire him decades after it first caught his eye. “The Cement Factory is a place of work par excellence. Life goes on here in a continuous sequence, with very little difference between work and leisure.”
